If you've been experiencing long, painful periods, leg cramps, backaches, constipation, and frequent urges to go to the bathroom, along with pelvic pain, you might have uterine fibroids. Fibroids aren't usually serious, but they can be painful. If you believe you have fibroids or you're experiencing pain from existing fibroids, reach out to the team at Mira Women's Health & Midwifery. Their women's health experts can put together a plan to manage your pain and get back to your life. Call the office in Boca Raton, Florida, or request an appointment online today.
Uterine fibroids are incredibly common in women of childbearing age but often cause no symptoms, so women don’t even realize they have them. They may be as small as a seed but can grow large – to the size of a grapefruit – and stretch out your uterus, causing serious discomfort.
In the vast majority of cases, cancer does not cause uterine fibroids. They are likely a result of hormonal activity.
If you have symptomatic fibroids, you might experience:
Fibroid pain is usually dull and aching. However, if a fibroid outgrows its blood supply and starts to die, you may experience acute, intense pain and need to contact Mira Women’s Health & Midwifery right away.
The team at Mira Women’s Health & Midwifery can review your symptoms and perform a pelvic exam, during which they may detect fibroids.
They may also order an in-office ultrasound to get a sense of the size, location, and the number of fibroids.
Fibroids that present with no symptoms require no special treatment. You may be scheduled for regular ultrasounds to monitor their growth. Often, asymptomatic fibroids resolve on their own, especially as you reach menopause and your hormone levels change.
Your doctor may recommend specific hormonal medications if you have painful fibroid symptoms. These medications can address pelvic pressure and heavy bleeding by possibly causing the fibroids to shrink or stop growing. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists are a common prescription. These medications halt the production of estrogen and progesterone. Oral contraceptives or a hormonal intrauterine device are other possible treatment options.
Some women may require surgery for large, symptomatic fibroids. Minimally invasive options include a myomectomy, which removes offending fibroids but leaves your uterus intact, performed via MyoSure® tissue removal. In some cases, you may require a full hysterectomy. Your doctor makes recommendations according to your fertility goals, your level of discomfort, and your age.
If you suspect you have uterine fibroids, call Mira Women’s Health & Midwifery or request an evaluation online today.